'Welcome to the Collective' by Shalimar616Submitted on 2008-05-17 21:02:59 CSTHey you two, been listening to your show and enjoy what I have heard so far. Sometimes the music gets a little out of control, but at least it is tolerable music.

For some odd reason, I cannot seem to get into Eve but I was relieved when you started talking about other games.

My only suggestion is to keep the show short and to the point.

Troy
Travels with Troy

'This is Excellent News' by DathmarSubmitted on 2008-05-18 13:00:04 CSTWelcome Chaps.
Love the Podcasts....I have been listening to them since Brent "Pimped" you a month or so ago.
...and please - More Ice Cream Vans !!

'Grr. Ice cream vans' by JonSubmitted on 2008-05-18 14:51:18 CSTHe came around again last episode, but we heard him in time this time.

I just wish he'd pick a regular time to come round and stick to it so we can prepare!

'Assimilated! HA!' by AkelySubmitted on 2008-05-18 16:49:19 CSTAsked you and you would not answer. Cheeky bastard! :P
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Great to see you here.

'Boogie' by LuperSubmitted on 2008-05-18 17:10:57 CSTI really enjoyed the podcast even though I felt you bashed a bit on Vanguard. I think Vanguard is still live and well. I play Planetside often (SN: MaggieAnne), but I play mostly on the Emerald server because of my location, although I do have characters on the other servers. I am waiting patiently for the server merge. I think the reason the game started losing players was because of BFRs. A lot of people didn't like them, so they left the game, and plus the whole point of the game is for the combination of RTS and FPS interaction, as well as immersion. If there isn't someone to fight, then the game is pointless. I've seen a lot of old players coming back, and we almost had a pop lock yesterday! I was amazed. We haven't come close to a pop lock in awhile, and I'm hoping with the new server merge we'll see more of that.

Anyways, I really enjoyed the back in time music segment you all had. It brought back tons of memories! I think it's important to look back on games, espeically the ones that have been engraved in your mind the most. There are memories that you'll never forget.

It's interesting that you say that Americans are more accepted as gamers. I'd like to hear more about why you believe this. I don't think I'm accepted by everyone. Many people think I waste countless hours in front of the computer, and many have no idea that I do. I don't tell everyone. lol. I think people will see me as a young kid (I'm not that old to begin with, but you know what I mean) because games are associated with kiddies.

Great podcast! Keep it coming.

Cheers,

~Luper the Dragonslayer (Voyages of Vanguard Co-Host)

'US/EU' by AkelySubmitted on 2008-05-19 05:27:58 CST"Many people think I waste countless hours in front of the computer, and many have no idea that I do."

Ah, but over here EVERYBODY thinks we waste countless hours in front of the computer.

'Kind words all!' by VanHemlockSubmitted on 2008-05-19 12:28:49 CSTNice to be here!

Re: EVE, we're not especially an EVE Podcast, but that is one of the few titles that both Jon and myself currently play, so there's bound to be a touch of overlap there. Even if I didn't, I do find EVE fascinating purely from an 'outside looking in' perspective though. Truth be told, we're not relay an *anything* podcast, and are unashamedly promiscious with our interests and gaming.

Re: Vanguard, I've never actually played it, so am probably guilty of bandwagon bashing a bit. I do intend to at some point though - I intend to play them *all* at some point or another!

Re: American Acceptance; I forget exactly what I said about that, but probably meant that online gaming is a more established and widespread thing in the US than the EU, where we're slowly catching up. Most MMOs are designed and run in the US, with the EU server(s) being an addition rather than a starting point, which is fine..there are more of you than us! True of the greater internet too; according to Google Analytics, my blog gets three times more hits from the US than my own country! Regardless, both sides of the pond, we suffer the disapproval of the Normals! Woe!

And yes, BFRs (and the Caves) really did kick Planetside's numbers in the kidneys, but I can sympathise - you've got to do *something* new now and then, just to keep people interested. BFRs were probably a step too far, and if it were me, I'd have gone with actual Large Battle Tanks instead.

More rambling at the weekend!

'Caves!' by LuperSubmitted on 2008-05-19 13:21:28 CSTVanHemlock, you think that the caves were a down falll in PS? I think the caves are great! I think it's a lot of fun, and the malestrom is sweet (my locker has a bunch of them.. fyi, great for interlink farms), but hey we're all entitled to our opinion.

I was just wondering why you think that?

~Luper the Dragonslayer (Voyages of Vanguard Co-Host)

'Spelunking!' by VanHemlockSubmitted on 2008-05-19 17:32:38 CSTHmm, hard to say. I've had good times and bad in there, but I guess the reason they made everyone go down there and do 75 kills, 5 captures and some attunement nonsense, instead of just making the BFR Cert an add-on from the Armoured Assault II, was that not many people bothered with the place after the novelty wore off.

Plus the urban combat style of the place did somewhat favour one side (who got the really rather powerful and very short-range Heavy Assault gun....no names!) over the others a bit. Could do fairly well sniping down there and with the CE, but possibly the place needed somewhat more defensible spawns, like the towers above ground. I do like the open country stuff best, and perhaps the confusing nature of the ziplines and ramps and whatnot detracted from the basic game a bit, for many, or perhaps the inaccessibility of them. Needed some kind of 'tunnelling drop pods', and maybe to be included on the Instant Action for those with the expansion. Definitely don't seem to see a large amount of action in them these last few weeks I've been freebieing it.

Must admit though, I've never really got on with any of the three guns you can get down there, so might just be me. Much easier to just charge out of the tubes and grab what the base terminals will provide! :)

You're entitled to your opinion, but I'd have to completely disagree with you. I think that the mini chaingun has more of an advantage in the caves because of its longer range and accuracy. I usually play VS, on the Emerald Server. I always loot them off of the TR. The chaingun can be used up above other players, and it's very beneficial when zooming across the zip lines.

I'd have to say my favorite time in PS was when Oshur had knife only fights on one of the islands. ^_^ That was so much fun.

~Luper the Dragonslayer (Voyages of Vanguard)

'Ah-ah-aah!' by VanHemlockSubmitted on 2008-05-20 05:35:20 CSTYou're not dragging me into a Heavy Assault Debate! That way Madness lies!

You're entitled to your opinion, and it's probably right! ;)

I was there for one of the Halloween 'Ghost' Kinfe Fights, and it was a lot of fun, yes!

'Ol' Fashioned English Fun' by MashidinSubmitted on 2008-05-20 10:05:35 CSTHey Van and Jon! I didn't have any actual criticism (anything valid, that is) but I did want to say these little podcast thingies you guys are doing are a lot of fun to listen to. I've enjoyed the, what seem to be impromtu, reviews of games. You may not realize this, but you just might accidentally intellegently inform us of something. Wether you meant to or not, your guys pull off witty, agile, and non chalantly informative well enough. Nothing like two proper speaking english dudes to give me an inferiority complex. For the record, IT doesn't seem so much like a triangle wearing a hat as much as perhaps a puritanical Calvinist bandito. Ciao brothers!
Mash

'Not really a debate on Heavy Assault...' by LuperSubmitted on 2008-05-20 12:06:54 CSTI was more so discussing which weapon was best in the caves, and my reasoning behind it. Not that I'm right, but it's interesting to hear what other people's opinions are.

Knife fights are the best. I'll have to shank you in game some time. I believe the server merge is in, so we'll have to see how the fight is now.

~Luper the Dragonslayer (Voyages of Vanguard)

'SOE miss the Boat ... ' by ElsythSubmitted on 2008-05-20 14:34:43 CSTI never liked the Cave but I think SOEs worst decision was the BFRs and shields as it just slowed down the game too much. I think it would have been better if they had kept the maps all on the one planet and added naval battles .. this would have added a whole new dimension to the game without affecting the core game play and balance. They could have then gone on to add space battles and space stations again without affecting the existing game. Its not the only time SOE have made some bad decision when making chages to a game though is it. Still Smed says he's learning from their mistakes ... I just hope he puts it into practice one day as I don't see much evidence that things have changed a great deal.